FSF26 Lineup Announcement
Free State Festival 2026 Brings Headliners Boots Riley and Robyn Hitchcock and a Slate of Revolutionary Films to Lawrence This June The Lawrence Arts Center is proud to announce the … [more]
Category: Ideas
The Pitch: Comedian Todd Barry talks animation, adventures, and crowd-work ahead of Friday’s Free State Festival
By Nick Spacek Comedian Todd Barry’s dry wit has garnered him quite a following over the past three decades, along with his appearances on seemingly every comedy series of note … [more]
The Lawrence Times: Panel of Lawrence librarians discuss challenges to intellectual freedom at Free State Festival screening
Photo by Molly Adams Story by Wulfe Wulfemeyer Although Lawrence has not weathered the book-banning movements that have swept conservative states and other sectors of Kansas, local librarians want to … [more]
The Lawrence Times: Free State Festival 2025 includes music documentaries, comedy, culinary delights and more
Free State Festival will bring back favorite Lawrence artists and introduce new faces with a varied lineup of film screenings, live music and food. Hosted by the Lawrence Arts Center, … [more]
Thank You for An Energizing Free State Festival 2024!
The Free State Festival celebrated the City of Lawrence, Kansas through film screenings with community partners, culinary adventures with local restaurants and networking opportunities; bringing neighbors and visitors together through … [more]
Comedian and actress Jana Schmieding kicks of the Free State Festival this Tuesday
Comedian, writer, and actor Jana Schmieding is rapidly becoming a force with which to be reckoned. Starting with her podcast Women of Size, moving on to working as a writer … [more]
Free State Festival returns this week with candy pairings, standup comedy, a squirrel hunting movie and more
By Chris Conde If you ask Marlo Angell, the director of Lawrence’s Free State Festival, what it takes to get viewers off of their couch and into a movie theater, … [more]
Lawrence Music Census results highlight local music ecosystem needs and opportunities
The Lawrence Music Census has shown that a rising cost of living is a key concern for musicians, and local musicians are some of the lowest paid across 25 cities … [more]
KPR Presents: Free State Festival
It’s a sneak peek at the 2024 Free State Festival, a week of independent films, music, and ideas. Join us for a conversation with Festival director Marlo Angell and Academy … [more]
Lawrence Times: Free State Festival 2024 lineup to feature Jana Schmieding, beat scientist and more
Marlo Angell, festival director and LAC curator of film and media, described the festival in a news release Thursday as a “signature community event” that “celebrates the free spirit of … [more]